Hi all. This last weekend we were up in Blaine and I found some interesting critters in the low intertidal zone. Wondering if anyone can help ID them... The first is an egg mass, deposited on an old barnacle-encrusted shell. There were a fair number of them scattered about the tideflats, in shells, on the occasional rock, anything semi-solid really...
The other is a critter that looks like a jellyfish, but with 'extras' attached... Budding off maybe? Never seen anything quite like it. Grains of sand for scale in the photo.
It was a minus tide, so we got the chance to *really* explore out a long ways...
Jim
Critter and egg ID help?
Critter and egg ID help?
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
- Scubie Doo
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:13 pm
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
The second one looks like a hooded nudibranch.
- Scubie Doo
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:13 pm
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Ah, cool. It was in the eelgrass beds... Gracias!
Jim
Jim
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
- Scubie Doo
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:13 pm
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Upon further review, the first looks like an opalescent squid egg cluster. But not 100% sure on that one.
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
How big were the first eggs? If like big grains of rice, could be dogwinkle eggs?
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more! Your fellow diver will appreciate any viz reports you can add!
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Each egg was perhaps 5-7 mm long, tapered ends, maybe 2-3 mm thick.YellowEye wrote:How big were the first eggs? If like big grains of rice, could be dogwinkle eggs?
Jim
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
- nwscubamom
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 2315
- Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:13 am
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Definitely NOT Opalescent Squid Eggs - much more likely a smaller whelk (snail) of some kind.
Rick Harbo's Whelks to Whales book (2nd edition) has a great back section on eggs and to which critter they belong.
Unfortunately I don't have my copy with me, or I'd look it up for you!
- Janna
Rick Harbo's Whelks to Whales book (2nd edition) has a great back section on eggs and to which critter they belong.
Unfortunately I don't have my copy with me, or I'd look it up for you!
- Janna
Janna Nichols
My underwater photo galleries
REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Seen any cool critters lately?
><((((°>
-----------------------------
My underwater photo galleries
REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Seen any cool critters lately?
><((((°>
-----------------------------
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
The second one is definitely a Melibe leonina, AKA Hooded nudibranch. The first one
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Aha! With that clue, a google for whelk eggs gives a bunch of photos that match up perfectly... This one http://www.theseashore.org.uk/theseasho ... laying.jpg is a dog whelk and a perfect match.nwscubamom wrote:Definitely NOT Opalescent Squid Eggs - much more likely a smaller whelk (snail) of some kind.
Rick Harbo's Whelks to Whales book (2nd edition) has a great back section on eggs and to which critter they belong.
Unfortunately I don't have my copy with me, or I'd look it up for you!
- Janna
I love this group! Soooooooo much info freely shared
Jim
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
-
- Aquaphile
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:36 pm
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Hi Jim,
For more info on these egg cases, try this site:
http://www.asnailsodyssey.com/LEARNABOU ... elRepr.php
Start off with "Research Study 11" near the bottom of the page for a clear and succinct description of what goes on with these things.
Reproductively yours,
Alex
For more info on these egg cases, try this site:
http://www.asnailsodyssey.com/LEARNABOU ... elRepr.php
Start off with "Research Study 11" near the bottom of the page for a clear and succinct description of what goes on with these things.
Reproductively yours,
Alex
Re: Critter and egg ID help?
Nice site, thanks Alex!
Jim
Jim
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."